MANILA, Philippines – Tinawag na ‘armory’ ng ebidensya ang kahon ng Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) na naglalaman ng tax records ni Vice President Sara Duterte at asawa nitong si Manases Carpio, ayon kay House impeachment trial spokesperson Zia Adiong ng Lanao del Sur nitong Biyernes, Hunyo 26.
Ang tinutukoy ni Adiong ay ang kahon ng BIR na nais buksan ng House prosecution panel at markahan bilang ebidensya sa pre-trial conference na tinutulan naman ng depensa.
Dahil dito ay hiniling na lamang ng House prosecution team na manatiling selyado ang kahon ng BIR at markahan bilang ebidensya, na tinutulan pa rin ng defense team.
Ang patuloy na pagtutol na ito ang dahilan para humiling ang Clerk of Court ng Senate impeachment court sa depensa na magpasa ng komento sa loob ng 24 oras sa pagresolba ng isyu.
“There is no other way to describe their reaction than fear. Ayaw nila makita. There’s no other way again to describe it because this does not look like a mere smoking gun. This is an arsenal, an armory that they do not want the public to know. But what we want for the court to appreciate is the entire financial picture insofar as the declared assets, declared liabilities, and the declared lawful income of the Vice President and her spouse,” ani Adiong.
“Because by the virtue of their union, they are considered as one entity. Secondly, what do they fear about this box? Well, this will show their paid taxes, their assets and liabilities. Their tax records won’t lie. The question here is, takot ba tayo sa katotohanan?” dagdag pa niya. RNT/JGC
